Onco DX DCIS test?

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1Daisy9
1Daisy9 Member Posts: 8
edited September 2018 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Has anyone used the Onco DX DCIS test to give information as to whether you are low or high risk for DCIS recurrence after lumpectomy? If you are older (70-ish) and the test comes back with a very low recurrence score after lumpectomy, maybe radiation isn't necessary?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited April 2018

    Hi 1Daisy9,

    This is essentially what the Oncotype DX DCIS test is used to determine, according to our main Breastcancer.org site's page on Oncotype DX testing:

    The Oncotype DX DCIS score analyzes the activity of 12 genes. You and your doctor can use the following ranges to interpret your results for DCIS:

    • Recurrence Score lower than 39: The DCIS has a low risk of recurrence. The benefit of radiation therapy is likely to be small and will not outweigh the risks of side effects.
    • Recurrence Score between 39 and 54: The DCIS has an intermediate risk of recurrence. It's unclear whether the benefits of radiation therapy outweigh the risks of side effects.
    • Recurrence Score greater than 54: The DCIS has a high risk of recurrence, and the benefits of radiation therapy are likely to be greater than the risks of side effects.

    You and your doctor will consider the Recurrence Score in combination with other factors, such as the size and grade of the cancer, the number of hormone receptors the cancer cells have (many versus few), and your age. Together, you can make a decision about whether or not you should have chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

    We hope this helps!

    --The Mods

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  • cccmc2
    cccmc2 Member Posts: 131
    edited April 2018

    just got my onco score back.... 55 . Not what I was hoping for.... I meet with oncologist in 2 weeks to discuss all options. I know Chemotherapy will be recommended for me. I plan to do whatever gives me the best odds. Out of curiousity, is there anyone out there who had a higher onco score and did not do recommended chemo? I already know I won’t need radiation. Chemo is my only question. I know an older woman who had almost exact diagnosis as me and she didn’t need to get chemo... just the surgery. Thanks for any info!!! XO

    CLEARLY IM NEW TO THIS

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  • 1Daisy9
    1Daisy9 Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2018

    I'm confused. I keep reading over and over again that chemo is not necessary for DCIS. Am I missing something?

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  • Kkubsky
    Kkubsky Member Posts: 231
    edited April 2018

    Chemo is not necessary for pure DCIS. Not sure how that works if you have a micro invasion also, but then technically you no longer are stage 0. I believe you are considered stage 1 at that point.


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  • Mackadoo
    Mackadoo Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2018

    From all I have learned, chemo is not recommended for pure DCIS. The confusion, I believe, is that there are separate Oncotype tests. The original test was for breast cancers that were NOT dcis. Now there is Oncotype DX for dcis specifically. And the scoring is different. It is to help with the decision to have radiation therapy, not chemo.

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  • 1Daisy9
    1Daisy9 Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2018

    I was referring to the Oncotype DX for DCIS. My sister had DCIS and had a lumpectomy. They then advised her that the standard of care was to have rads and tamoxifen. She took the Onco test for DCIS and it came back with a low recurrence score. Therefore, she decided not to have rads and tamoxifen. Her doctors agreed it would probably be overkill.

    There is a lot of overtreatment due to uncertainty. Now they are even saying that most women don't need chemo, even though many of us had it. I had it 15 years ago. I thought it was overkill, but did it anyway.

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  • SunnyInSummer
    SunnyInSummer Member Posts: 7
    edited September 2018

    Thank you for this clarification. When I asked what my oncotype was, my MO told me that this test was only for invasive cancers. I am frustrated with the communication between my docs & me.I asked if they would be monitoring my estrogen levels while I was taking tamoxifen & I thought my doc was going to explode! He said there is no way of knowing this. Trials were done & that’s what is used as the standard. I can’t tell if I am confused about something and asked a dumb question. He said they would test for liver function. Can anyone weigh in?

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